Theater Logistician Maj. Gen. Kenneth S. Dowd - KMI Media Group

Q&A
Ensuring a Continuum of Logistical Support to the Warfighter
Theater Logistician
Major General Kenneth S. Dowd
Director for Logistics
United States Central Command
Major General Kenneth S. Dowd, U.S. Army, is the director
for Logistics, U.S. Central Command, MacDill Air Force Base,
Fla.
Dowd was commissioned through the ROTC program upon
graduation from Cumberland College, Ky., in 1979. His military
education includes the Quartermaster Basic and Advanced
Course, Logistics Executive Development Course, U.S. Army
Command and General Staff College, Armed Forces Staff College
and the U.S. Army War College. In addition, he holds a
master’s degree in logistics management from the Florida
Institute of Technology.
Dowd has served in command and staff positions throughout
his career to include: tech supply officer in the 702nd
Maintenance Battalion, 2nd Infantry Division; battalion maintenance
officer and commander, Headquarters and Headquarters
Company, 4th S&T Battalion, 4th Infantry Division;
research and development officer, CASCOM, Fort Lee, Va.;
support operations officer and executive officer, 3rd Forward
Support Battalion, Schweinfurt, Germany; division material
management officer, Division Support Command, 3rd Infantry
Division; joint logistics plans officer, USACOM, Norfolk, Va.;
and commander, 299th Forward Support Battalion, Schweinfurt,
Germany. During this tour, the 299th deployed to Bosnia
and provided the logistical support for the 2nd Brigade “Dagger”
Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division. He served as chief,
logistics operation center, and DA DCSLOG, Washington, D.C.
In July 2001 he assumed command of the 1st Armored Division
Support Command. During this time frame his units deployed
in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Dowd served as the
assistant deputy chief of staff for logistics, U.S. Army Europe,
and the executive officer to the Army G4. His most recent
assignment was director of Logistics, Engineering and Security
Assistance, U.S. Pacific Command, Camp Smith, Hawaii.
Dowd’s awards and decorations include the Defense Superior
Service Medal, Legion of Merit with one Oak Leaf Cluster,
Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal
with four Oak Leaf Clusters, Army Commendation Medal with
Silver Oak Leaf Cluster, and the Army Achievement medal with
two Oak Leaf Clusters.
Dowd was interviewed by MLF Editor Jeff McKaughan.
Q: Good afternoon, General Dowd. Let’s start with an overview
of your command and its responsibilities.
A: As you know, I am the logistician for CENTCOM. General
Petraeus is my boss, and I have the overall responsibility for
logistics within the 20 counties in the CENTCOM AOR. Logistics
includes the functions of transportation, engineering,
foreign military sales movements, oversight of contracting,
planning for these functions, and the day-to-day execution of
these functions. Among others, these are the bigger themes to
which I devote my attention for the command.
Q: You are tasked with reducing the footprint, while still
engaged, in Iraq and transitioning much of that to Afghanistan,
also engaged. What are the most significant challenges
to that, and how are they being met?
A: First off, there has been a lot of good planning, both at the
CENTCOM and [Multi-National Forces-Iraq] MNF-I, [Multi-
National Corps-Iraq] MNC-I, and [Army Central Command]
ARCENT levels of structure. We have what I call LOG Nation;
all the logistics elements at the various echelons on command,
looking at the overall drawdown.
We know how much equipment has to come out, and we are
getting help from the OSD folks on what materiel we might be
able to leave behind. One of our challenges right now is getting
the appropriate authorities to help us make decisions on what
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